Pending bills of State staff released

Hyderabad: Orders have been issued by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu for the release of Rs 713 crore towards pending bills payable to the State Government employees for the month of December. Following the Deputy Chief Minister’s directions, officials of the Finance Department released bills amounting to Rs 713 crore related to the month of December on Wednesday. It may be recalled that the Praja Government had earlier assured employee unions that an amount of Rs 700 crore would be released every month. By the end of June, the government released Rs 183 crore. Thereafter, from the August onwards, a minimum of Rs 700 crore has been consistently released every month. The bills released include payments related to employees’ gratuity, GPF (General Provident Fund), surrender leave encashment and advances.